Jose Altuve exits game with left foot contusion

Altuve’s 28th career postseason home run puts him one behind Manny Ramirez for the all-time lead. He had a chance to put Houston ahead in the ensuing frame but wound up flying out to right field with the bases loaded. It’s fair to wonder how much longer Houston will be able to sustain things with its current nucleus, which is comprised largely of remnants from the dynastic run earlier in the decade, including Altuve, alongside newer faces who have yet to lead the club to sustained playoff success. In some ways, being swept by an upstart White Sox team feels like a fitting end for this group with Chicago beginning to chart its own course in a fashion reminiscent of Houston’s own unexpected rise roughly a decade ago.

No real changes for the Astros, with the exception of Alvarez heading out to left field with Isaac Paredes moving to DH and Nick Allen entering at third base, as they try to stave off elimination and force a decisive Game 3 showdown. Here’s the full lineup: Jeremy Peña (SS), Alvarez (LF), Paredes (DH), Jose Altuve (2B), Yainer Diaz (C), Christian Walker (1B), Lucas Spence (CF), Cam Smith (RF) and Allen (3B).

There’s been some speculation that the Astros might give Altuve some DH time in the series, with Yordan Alvarez playing left, but that’s not happening in Game 1. The lineup: SS Jeremy Peña, DH Alvarez, 3B Isaac Paredes, 2B Altuve, C Yainer Diaz, 1B Christian Walker, CF Lucas Spencer, RF Cam Smith, LF Taylor Trammell.

Altuve’s home run was his 16th of the season. He hit a solo shot off Martin Perez in the fourth inning. It was his first home run since September 3 against the White Sox, a span of 14 games where Altuve had only one RBI. He’s hitting .249 with a .709 OPS and 45 RBI this year.

Rosenthal adds that Jose Altuve would move to DH to accommodate Correa’s impending return from the injured list ahead of the postseason. The soon-to-be 32-year-old, who moved to third base after returning to Houston last year, has never played at the keystone in his professional career. There’s optimism he’ll make it back for the final week of the regular season after undergoing left ankle surgery back in mid-May.

Altuve got the Astros on the board first in this one, crushing an 0-1 fastball from Luis Castillo for a 353-foot (93.9-mph EV) two-run shot into the Crawford boxes in left field in the opening frame. That would be his only hit in four at-bats on the day which included a pair of strikeouts. The 36-year-old infielder is slashing a middling .244/.309/.397 with 15 homers, 43 RBI and just four stolen bases (in seven attempts) on the season.

Altuve drove in three runs for the third time this season. The homer was his 269th, moving him past Joe Morgan and into sixth place all-time among second basemen. Next up on the list are Ryne Sandberg at 282 and Craig Biggio at 291. Jeff Kent, at 377, is the all-time leader. Marcus Semien, with 267, is also looking to move up the list.

The 36-year-old second baseman exited Tuesday’s game with a left foot contusion and was held out on Wednesday as a precautionary measure. He’s doing much better after a couple of days off though and is right back in there at second base and batting fifth against Mariners’ right-hander George Kirby on Friday evening in Houston.

Altuve was diagnosed with a left foot contusion after leaving Tuesday, and the ailment will keep the 36-year-old out for at least one game. Nick Allen will handle second base while Altuve recovers.

We’ll assume it was X-rays that were negative and that he’ll be undergoing an MRI as a followup. Altuve left Tuesday’s game after being hit on the foot by a pitch and was still feeling sore after the contest. If he needs to miss some time, the Astros could recall Raynel Delgado to play behind Nick Allen at second base.